Architecture of Democracy

Some say the U.S. Supreme Court is a roving circus. Really?

When the nation was young, the Court used to meet on Wall Street at the original Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. Then, when the government moved to Philadelphia, so did the Court.

Even when the federal government moved to Washington, D. C. around 1800, the Justices had no meeting place to call their own for over 100 years. The stately Neoclassical Supreme Court Building designed by American architect Cass Gilbert became the Court's permanent home in 1935—only 77 years ago.

The Justices are still settling in. Really.

Learn More About U.S. Architectural History:

• U.S. Supreme Court building
• Famous Buildings in Washington, D.C.
• Walking Down Wall Street
• Visit the Court in Washington, D.C.

^{SOURCE: The Court Building, Supreme Court of the United States website. PHOTO of U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. courtesy Clipart.com.}